Kelly Rugless Earle Jr.

BERRY - Kelly Rugless Earle, Jr., 87, of Berry, passed away Sun., Dec. 26, 2004 at Lexington Country Place Nursing facility in Lexington, KY. Born on Oct. 22, 1917, he was a son of the late Kelly R. Sr., and Katura Gardner Earle. He was the widower of Anna Margaret Fisher Earle and Georgia Lee Renaker Earle. Mr. Earle taught Vocational Agriculture for 32 ½ years at Harrison County High Schools. He was a member of the Berry United Methodist Church, co-owner of Fisher farms, charter member and former president of the Berry Lions Club, Chairman of the board of directors for Union Bank of Berry, and Farmers National Bank of Cynthiana, Chairman of the Harrison Memorial Hospital Board, Chairman of the Harrison County Senior Citizens, and Chairman of the Board for Pythian Grove Cemetery in Berry. He was the recipient of many awards including the Service of Distinction Award given by the Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, The Top Farm Hand Award by the farm operators of Harrison County, and Honorary FFA Chapter Member. He was a 1936 graduate of Berry High School; where he was a standout in basketball and baseball, and a 1940 graduate of the University of Kentucky. He joined the U.S. Army and served his country in World War II with the 68th Medical Regiment, and served in 5 major battle campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star, The Distinguished Service Award, and was honored in 1995 by the Jewish Community of Lexington for his part in liberating Buchenwald Concentration Camp in 1945. He is survived by one daughter; Patricia Ann Earle of Lexington, KY, one Son; Dr. Gary Fisher Earle of Lexington, KY, one step-daughter; Nancy Gay (Chris) Swainhart of Ft. Thomas, KY, one step-son; Teddy Reed (Susan) Renaker, Jr. of Lexington, KY, a Sister, Marjorie Pierce of Cynthiana, Ky.; four step-grandchildren; Ashley Swainhart, Mary Beth (Mark) Pocock, Sam Swainhart, Katie Swainhart, one niece; Mary Jo Fox, and his loving Bull Terrier; Issac. He was preceded in death by two brothers; Herschel and Dempsey Earle, and two sisters; Mary Norma Horscik, and Jean Keish. Funeral Services will be held on Thurs., Dec. 30, 2004 at 1 pm at Woodhead Funeral Home in Berry, KY., with Rev. Larry Jones and Rev. Tim Humphries officiating. Pallbearers for the service will be Tom McKee, Lemme Arnold, Jerry Dawson, George Paul Hehr, Bob Lenox, Ken Abner, John Milton Caldwell, and Jerry Jenkins. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ronnie Earle, Kenny Earle, Frank Keish, George Pierce, Sam Pierce, Bob Pierce, Ewell Pierce Jr., Charles Burgess, Danny Whitaker, Huck Turner, Jim Brown, Dean Peak, and Dr. Ed Ford. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Pythian Grove Cemetery in Berry, KY. The visitation will take place on Wed. from 5-8 pm at the Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Shropshire Animal Shelter, New Lair Road, Cynthiana, Kentucky or the American Diabetes Assoc. Guestbook at Legacy.com